Vacation Rentals by Owner

"What a Country!!"

Guest: From Missouri, Show Me (Kansas City, MO.)
Date of Stay: 04/05/12 Review Submitted: 04/12/12

A stay and enjoyment level just as advertised and previously rated by other renters. The views and feelings generated from such a nice location, as well as the owners/contact personnel relationship is simply a breath of fresh air. You'll love the views, lifestyle you establish, and the contact with good old Mother Nature. If lucky enough to see & experience a southwest TX thunderstorm, the sunshine, and almost constant breezes in early April, you will appreciate your choice for some down time. Spend time reading on the porches, watching the day go by, and grill your dinner for porchtime consumption to really enjoy life in the Big Bend. Definitely go to Big Bend Nat'l Park, visit the Rio Grande, and the Chisos Mtn. basin. Stargazing and waiting for the full moon is not to be missed. Read about the people, their culture, and the trying times these pioneers endured to settle this region. If in Study Butte, visit India's Cafe & Bakery; you won't be sorry for the good people you will meet and enjoy. Try the breakfast taco and just enjoy sitting about with the very gracious and caring owners. My 5 days on site were some of the best days of my life. Texas and the Big Bend area is simply heaven.

Owner response:Thank you very much! It's always great to hear that someone has enjoyed their stay. We're pleased also that you managed to visit lots of the local sites, AND got to see a thunderstorm roll through. They can be awesome! We've been visiting the Big Bend area for more than forty years, and it's experiences like those you describe that that we love and hope everyone can have a chance to share. Thanks again! Dee & Wayne.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Trip!

Guest: BBB (Michigan)
Date of Stay: 02/06/12 Review Submitted: 02/21/12

Just back and would love to turn around and go right back to Big Bend and this retreat. Property was a great place to come back to after our days of hiking. Loved the amazing quiet and views and all was comfortable and as listed. We had one small issue our first morning there - up early so it was still dark and there was no wind either so we did not have enough electricity to make a pot of coffee. If no coffee one morning would ruin your day consider taking a french press along just in case. Other mornings we had enough power. Of note: there is an old stovetop percolator at the retreat. Information about the retreat that came after booking was thorough and excellent. Would definitely stay again and recommend. Go, see this amazing place! FYI - came from the midwest in winter so thought I was well versed with dry skin but SW TX put Michigan dryness to shame. Take good moisturizer with you, your skin will thank you.

Owner response:Thanks very much for the review. Janet and Daryl are always working hard to make visits to the retreat special, relaxing, and fun. It's a tall order, but they manage to make it seem effortless. Thank you also for reporting the problem with the power. Daryl has already started looking into the situation and we are confident that the coffee will be brewing in time for your next visit. Thanks again, and happy travels! Dee & Wayne.

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A great vacation

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 04/30/11 Review Submitted: 04/12/12

My husband and I had a blissful vacation at this very special location. The cottage was clean, comfortable, contemporary, and peaceful. The night sky was enormous. We loved the proximity to Big Bend and travelled there every day. Daryl was informative and available if needed. We absolutely loved this vacation and recommend it as a five star destination for anyone who truly wants to get away from it all. We've been home a week and I have had dreams of this place for the last few nights. Nuff said.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The beautiful sunsets were the "cake" and the stars at night were the "icing"!!

Guest: Debbie and Kevin (Wisconsin)
Date of Stay: 04/27/11 Review Submitted: 07/18/11

This is the place for anyone who truly wants to get "away from it all"! We had a fantastic time at The Terlingua Ranch and enjoyed every minute of our stay! I always look for places that meet our 3 "C" requirements: Clean, Comfortable and Cost. The Terlingua Ranch Retreat surpassed all of them! Words just can't do justice to the scenic views, piece and quiet that surounds the retreat. A big THANK YOU to the owners for sharing a little part of their heaven with us and the caretakers for ensuring that everything was perfect!!

Owner response:Thank you for your very kind words. We think the views from the house are great. The only thing we know to do that will make the scenery more enjoyable is to keep the house as easy and comfortable as possible while minimizing any impact on the surroundings. That seems to suit most folks, and we are glad you enjoyed your stay. Thanks again, Dee and Wayne.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

beautiful solitude - just as described

Guest: sandy (San Antonio)
Date of Stay: 03/05/11 Review Submitted: 03/14/11

If you've read the other reviews they all sound just alike. Why? Because this retreat home is beautiful and located out away from everything. It is equiped with anything you need and is extremely clean, cozy and comfortable. The view from any directions is breathtaking Texas rugged beauty. when we heard there was no TV we brought books and magazines to relax - but never even got to them. with the choice of porches you can watch the sun come up or go down, be in the breeze or away from it. between sitting on the porch, cooking on the grill, watching the stars - we "ran out of time" to read. it was wonderful and relaxing. Our dog Toby loved laying out on the porch and exploring the land and sniffing out wonderful doggie smells. I think he was as sad to leave as we were. We look forward to our next visit!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Perfection personified

Guest: Rachelle (Moody, TX)
Date of Stay: 02/17/11 Review Submitted: 03/08/11

Spent only four days out in this lovely home. The silence was so loud! No airplanes, trains, cars ...just pure nature. There is a family of deer that come very close to the house in the early morning hours. Took an outside camp shower with us because it was winter and the outside shower wasn't attached. Wow! How very cool! The home itself is gorgeous and you can tell that every effort was employed to make this a green home. The enviro-let was different but not an issue. Every day was windy and sunny so there was always plenty of electricity. Make sure to hike the surrounding land. I left a couple small rock sculptures. I think that others have done this as well...never made it to the labyrinth. Another reason to go back! Hiked every day in Big Bend. Not a single bad thing to say about Terlingua; only a warning that La Kiva is a very local restaurant. It is interesting but the service ... meh... Better off going to Starlight. Don't miss out on the cemetery. So many things to do and we only just scratched the surface. Cannot wait to go back!!!

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

A REAL TREAT

Guest: Eric & Frannie (California)
Date of Stay: 11/04/10 Review Submitted: 11/10/10

My husband and I stayed here a week and could stay much longer. It was exactly as described - so quiet, peaceful, beautiful vistas and night skies with all the comforts of home. We enjoyed the reference library, searching and identifying cactus, nice music, well supplied little kitchen. We appreciate the gentle-on- the-earth attitude. The attention to details make this place a very nice home away from home. We did visit other places around but were always glad to return to our own little place for the night.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Most Awesome

Guest: Diana & Lex (Andrews, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 10/25/10

My husband and I stayed at the Ranch Retreat for the weekend. It was quite and peaceful. The house was just the right size and set up nicely with lots of room for what seemed like a small house from the outside. The Sunset and Sunrises were breathtaking. We hiked, had supper out on the porch, sat at the Labyrinth, my favorite part, read, played cards, toured Big Bend and Terlingua Ghost Town. All in all we had a wonderful time. We will definitely return, there is still so much to see.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Kathy and Jason Lund (Marion, Texas)
Date of Stay: 10/26/09 Review Submitted: 10/26/09

WOW!! We spent 3 nights at the retreat and enjoyed every moment. It's everything and more. You need it, trust me it's there. Dee and Wayne you did a great job with all the info, thank you. We hated to leave, but came home with a new outlook and spring in our step. Again thank you!!! Can't wait to go back.

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Guest: Charlie Warren (Little Rock, AR)
Date of Stay: 05/08/09 Review Submitted: 05/08/09

Photos of the house, as good as they are, do not begin to show the beauty of the setting. A camera cannot capture the 360-degree panorama view. It’s like trying to photograph the Grand Canyon. You can only get a small part in a photo, but the awe is in the panorama.I am in my 60s, married for 38 years, but this was my first ever vacation without my wife and/or children. I love them dearly, but it was nice to be alone for awhile and do what I pleased whenever I pleased. It was fantastic to get away from the pressures of my job and chill out in such an awesome environment. I recommend the house highly and hope to return someday.

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Guest: Donna Hebner (Austin Texas)
Date of Stay: 01/25/09 Review Submitted: 01/25/09

Everyone has already articulated quite well the serenity of the retreat. So I will just add some comnments for folks who are on their way. The directions were great...the 7 mile marker is yellow and on the right. We set the odometer to .2 and saw the road. We did not realize that Dee meant the poles with the red markers...we were looking for poles with red flags...duh...but we found it easily. The road in is a bit bumpy...we had an SUV. But no worries...all manageable. We always had hot water...everything worked. All user friendly. Had everything available for cooking, etc. And the books on Big Bend and surrounding areas are many. You do not need to purchase any. The Book that Dee and Wayne have made is very good...So you really don't need to bring anything unless you have personal reading you want to take care of. Cell phones do not work except in the area of Study Butte. Computers do...if you need that contact. I realize that some do, like my husband. We cooked our meals at the house except for the last night when we went to the Starlite in Terlingua Ghost Town...nice country music with good food. We walked the area around the house..and concur with one of the guests who requested a marking of the perimeter. Labyrinth is fantastic. We saw very few animals...while hiking big bend we saw two coyotes...did hear them howling at the ranch..a beautiful sound. Saw scat of Jackrabbits and finally saw one on the final day. Saw Mule deer. The area is really dry but did take a few pictures of bluebonnets if you could believe that. All in all...a great place. Thanks Dee and Wayne and Daryl also even though we did not meet him. Donna and Bob from Austin Texas

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Guest: Kathryn Sublett (Waco, TX)
Date of Stay: 12/17/08 Review Submitted: 12/17/08

My husband and I fell in love immediately with this beautiful property. No matter what direction you look, from any window or either porch, the views are truly beautiful. Lowlands to mountains, it's all gorgeous. The quiet is soul-soothing. We were there during a no-moon phase so at night you can see every star in the universe and it literally will take your breath away. I love seeing the Milky Way arcing across the sky. The cabin is so comfortable and cozy. The bed upstairs is very, very comfortable as is the little day bed downstairs. I loved having coffee out on the porch in the mornings. The sunsets are fabulous from the west porch...colors changing minute by minute and welcoming Jupiter and Venus to the night sky. We look forward to our next visit which we are already planning. I highly recommend this vacation spot!

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Guest: Brian Hunt (Bellevue WA)
Date of Stay: 10/14/08 Review Submitted: 10/14/08

VRBO is such a great resource and I'm delighted to submit comments about Terlingua Ranch Retreat. I was looking for quiet and solitude. The Retreat offered that in a wonderfully solid, contemporary, well-built house. I was so comfortable there, I didn't leave the property the entire week. The weather in early Oct was nearly perfect (hot, dry). The scenery, sunsets, and stars were magnificent. And the plants and critters were fascinating. There were wildflowers all over the place! The property is in the middle of the acreage and the only neighbors in residence were 1.5 miles away. This area of W Texas is starkly beautiful. Dee was wonderful in giving information and getting me booked. I ran into Daryl on the way into the property and had a nice chat about the house. I would happily spend another week here if I'm so lucky again.

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Guest: Mark Eggebrecht (Fort Worth. TX)
Date of Stay: 08/06/08 Review Submitted: 08/06/08

If this place doesn't make you want to move away from the rat race, nothing will. My girlfriend and I stayed in early Summer and had an incredible time. If you don't enjoy cooking in a well-equipped kitchen, listening to Marfa NPR, watching the most amazing sunsets, all while enjoying a bottle of wine or two, try the HoJo down the road. But, if you want to experience how happy you can be without television and Starbucks, give it a try. The experience gave me hope and inspiration for a simpler life.

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Guest: David & Marie (Spring, Texas)
Date of Stay: 03/27/08 Review Submitted: 03/27/08

We fell in love with the Terlingua Retreat. The views are incredible in every direction. Words can not describe how spectacular the sunrise and sunset colors dance across the sky. We were lucky enough to have a full moon illuminating the desert at night. One night we were awakened by coyotes howling outside our window. The cool desert breeze at night is a delight. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and peaceful place with others. We look forward to many visits.

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Guest: Christi2 (Houston, TX)
Date of Stay: 02/15/08 Review Submitted: 02/15/08

This was an amazing place to rent. We had a great time just walking through the area where the house was on as well as being relatively close to Big Bend. Our dogs were entrigued by the coyotes at night. We experienced an intense storm one evening and the windmill went like crazy. Awesome, awesome - we totally recommend it.

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Guest: R. Beck (New York, NY)
Date of Stay: 01/12/08 Review Submitted: 01/12/08

Wow! I had an extraordinary time in The Big Bend area and wanted to thank you again for my sojourn at The Retreat. I don't know that I have ever enjoyed such sweeping vantages of both earth and sky. Perhaps it is akin to being at sea. (Two pictures were necessary to capture the full scope of sunsets and sunrises.) It is an inspiring place. I look forward to staying there again some time in the future.

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Guest: Wendy Harrelson (Quinlan, TX)
Date of Stay: 10/28/07 Review Submitted: 10/28/07

The best way to describe this property is STUNNING! Mountain views are un-interrupted and there are only a few (3) houses that were in the far distance. We even enjoyed the outdoor shower without worrying that we were being overlooked. The house is beautiful and well maintained, the screened porch was great to keep the bugs away when we were enjoying the wonderful view, and at night there was complete silence (except for the coyotes we heard in the distance) and very few lights in the distance to interfere with the stars. We did have concerns with the Envirolet when we rented the house, but after using it those concerns vanished. It is like nothing I've ever used before and it truly had no odor at any time during our stay. The Owners and (local contact) Daryl were easy to deal with and made sure that all our needs were met. Overall, this is a WONDERFUL place to stay and we would recommend it to friends, family, and anyone else who will listen!

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